General Court of the European Union Rules for Willkie Client France Télévisions in Subsidy Case

French court dismisses challenge brought by three privately owned French broadcasters with respect to European Commission’s authorization of €150 million subsidy to France Télévisions.

On July 1, the General Court of the European Union dismissed a challenge brought by three privately owned French broadcasters (TF1, M6 and Canal+) to the European Commission’s decision authorizing the French state to grant a €150 million subsidy to Willkie client France Télévisions. The subsidy was intended to assist the publicly owned broadcaster in meeting the costs of its public service obligations for the year 2008. The grant followed President Sarkozy’s announcement that advertising will progressively disappear from France Télévisions' screens, thus resulting in a significant decline in revenue for the broadcaster.

The matter was handled by partners Jacques-Philippe Gunther and David Tayar, and associates Adrien Giraud and Dounia Ababou.